When do you sign a contract?

lilacck28 · October 2014

If you like this menu, then definitely ask! It might be early, but they're also grabbing your business when they have no idea how they'll fill the calendar in two years. That's a positive for them. Some venues will not budge in their system, some will bend over backwards to make you happy. Look for the latter.

Maggie0829 · October 2014

When I signed my contract that locked in pricing for everything including food and booze so even if their prices went up over the course of the year my prices stayed the same.

CTYankeeBride · October 2014

Maggie0829 said:

When I signed my contract that locked in pricing for everything including food and booze so even if their prices went up over the course of the year my prices stayed the same.

Same here. Prices have gone up about 15$ pp (plus tax and service charge) since we booked so it was good for us that we locked in that price when we did. One of the meal options we have available is no longer included in the package we selected either so if we wanted to add a seafood option that would have been an up-charge now.

Definitely get everything in writing or be prepared to lose your $500 and have to find another venue if you don't like the changes and pricing once they're ready to write a contract.

lyndausvi · October 2014

My chef DH would NEVER lock into food or menus this far out. Not happening. Food costs raise too much from year to year. Bad weather in one part of the country or cost of fuel goes up and their food costs will increase over 30% in 6 months. 18 months who knows what will happen.

In addition to that DH changes menus on a yearly basis. Sometimes for creative reason. Others based on food costs. He knows banquet planners like meals in a certain range. So he creates the menu to fall into that range.

Sometimes the guests will locks in a menu price and then creates the menu based on food costs around the wedding No he doesn't go from lobster to crackers. But you might go to a different cut of meat. Different preparations, different veggies, etc.

Or if you want a certain menu they will guarantee only up to a certain percentage increase. Normally 10-15% increase. Sometimes there are little to no increases, but sometimes the food costs are more than the 10% and the venue eats the difference.

cowgirl8238 · October 2014

mamaprecious said:

She said the menu is gong to change for sure so im guessing the price will change too what makes me nervous. So even if I sign the contract without the food portion in it don't know how much the food is going to go up and when.

I wanted to add, that when I booked my florist she had a clause in the contract about the potential change in price due to an increase in cost of the flowers choosen, because we booked over a year out. Basically any cost increase of 5% or less she would not charge for. Any change over 5% would be on us to cover, with a max of a 10% increase. Anything over 15% meant a new proposal/redesign of flower choices etc... This way, she wouldn't lose a whole lot of money, but we wouldn't get any huge surprises either!

When do you sign a contract?

Re: When do you sign a contract?

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